ICYMI Worship, 9/2/2018: Pure from the Outside In

Welcome to ICYMI Worship! ICYMI stands for In Case You Missed It; our ICYMI series gives a brief snapshot of worship each week so that you can worship in your home, on the road, or wherever life takes you.

At Cross of Christ, our basic worship order is based on worship patterns from Hebrew traditions and biblical accounts of the earliest Christians:
We GATHER with songs and prayer,
We HEAR God’s word,
We SHARE a meal of bread and wine,
We are SENT into the world to love and serve.

Let us know how this format works for you.

TODAYIS THE FIFTEENTH SUNDAYAFTERPENTECOST

GATHERING SONG

“Dearest Jesus, At Your Word”

THISWEEK’SREADINGS

Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 The Israelites believed the law was a divine gift that provided guidelines for living out the covenant. Moses commands the people to obey the law and to neither add to nor subtract from it. The Israelites are also to teach the law to their children and their children’s children.

James 1:17-27 The letter of James was intended to provide first-century Christians with instruction in godly behavior. Here, Christians are encouraged to listen carefully and to act on what they hear, especially by caring for those least able to care for themselves.

THISWEEK’S GOSPEL

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23Mark’s gospel depicts Jesus as challenging traditional ways in which religious people determine what is pure or impure. For Jesus, the observance of religious practices cannot become a substitute for godly words or deeds that spring from a faithful heart.

PASTOR DAVE’S SERMON SNAPSHOT: “Pure from the Outside In”

On the final Sunday in our longer-than-usual summer combined worship service schedule, we read of how Jesus is challenged by religious authorities who accuse him and his followers of not following the rules, rituals, and traditions they hold so dear. Jesus doesn’t devalue righteousness, but rather redirects the focus from rules to relationships. God cares about how we act on the outside, but God cares more about how we allow the Holy Spirit to act on us, on the inside.

SONG OF THE DAY

“O God, My Faithful God”

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Freed by God in Christ to live and love and serve, we pray for the church, those in need, and for all of God’s creation. Each petition ends “Lord, in your mercy” to which the congregational response is “hear our prayer.”

Guiding God, we pray this Labor Day Weekend for workers, laborers, employees, and entrepreneurs; for craft-persons, farmers, merchants, and engineers; for teachers, trainers, mentors, and managers; for interns, apprentices, trainees, and new hires. We pray for retirees who rest from their vocational labor. We pray also for the unemployed and underemployed, for those who labor under unjust systems and unfair labor practices, for those who do not find their labor to be meaningful or life-giving, for those who experience their workplaces as sites of hostility, prejudice, and abuse; for those who are victims of workplace racism, sexism, age-ism or other forms of bias. May all who seek work find labor they love. May all who work hard be fairly and adequately compensated and treated. May all who are retired enjoy this season of life as well-earned and well spent. May all Christians witness to their faith in the workplace by laboring as unto you. Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Gracious God, we pray for all those who bear your word into the world by welcoming the stranger, healing the sick, caring for the vulnerable, and advocating for justice for all. Embolden your church to take up the cross against the powers of oppression, division, hatred and death in all their forms. Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Creative God, we pray for the earth. Keep watch over those who help protect endangered species, who steward wild lands, who respond to natural disasters, who advocate for better ecological practices. We remember especially firefighters and National Guardsmen battling wildfires in Washington, the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia, California and elsewhere, and those who have been or potentially could be victims of these blazes. Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Loving God, you call us to serve our neighbors. Bless our vocations as we fill the cups of the thirsty, the plates of the hungry, and the hearts of the lonely. Make our presence your presence for all who sorrow or grieve in our congregation, community, and country. Use us to bring healing and hope to those in need, especially our members and their loved ones who have asked for our public prayers: Anna Bero, Brian Constable, Ellie Dennison, Linda Ernst, Phyllis Hahn, Ruth Huehnerhoff, Dan Jacobson – son-in-law of Dick and Darlene Hanner, Eileen Johnson, Priscilla Kanestrom, Marlys Paulson, John Paulson, and Marilyn Van Brero. Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Into your wide embrace, gracious God, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your boundless mercy through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.

Amen.

COMMUNION SONG

“Take, Oh, Take Me As I Am”

On the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.

All are welcome to receive Christ’s Body and Blood in the Bread and Wine of the Eucharist.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

TWO-SERVICE SCHEDULE RESUMES NEXT SUNDAY – with Traditional Worship at 9 am, our casual Mosaic Service at 11 am, and Adult Faith Formation and Children’s Sunday School between services. (See below for details on these opportunities to “Grow in Faith”.)

YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ARE INVITED TO THE “PRAY-GROUND” – This special space in the Sanctuary is designed for our youngest worshippers and their families. Children age 8 and under are welcome to color, play games, enjoy age-appropriate books, and just have their own space in the back of the transept – the southeast corner of the Sanctuary. We LOVE having children in worship! We hope this special place helps make them and their families feel both welcome and comfortable.

NEW ADULT FAITH FORMATION STUDY BEGINS – next Sunday, 10:15 to 10:55 am, in the Library. “Christian Clichés: Half-Truths, Fake Faith, and the Uncovering of Unhelpful Sayings Based on the Bible – Or Not!” is a series exploring things all of us have heard that ring true at first, but in fact often are counter to the Biblical message. Join Pastor Dave as he leads this interesting study that will get you re-thinking, refocused, and reaffirmed in the core teachings of your Christian and Lutheran faith. Sundays between services.

CHILDREN’S SUNDAY SCHOOL STARTS NEXT WEEK – It’s back to Sunday School time! We’re taking a Whirl of a journey this year through stories in our NEW Whirl Story Bibles–please join us as we start with the Creation story and move through the Old Testament, meeting new people with fascinating stories to tell us. Our program for kids ages 4-10 will meet in the Youth Room between services starting today and is designed for any child to drop in at any time. We hope to see you there!

WELCA BIBLE STUDY LEADERS MEET ON THURSDAY – in the Conference Room, from 10-11:15 am, as Pastor Dave helps Circle Leaders prepare for this fall’s first Circle meetings. We’ll go over the Bible Study from the September issue of “Gather” magazine which focuses on repentance. Bring you copy of “Gather”, your Bibles, and your favorite note-taking supplies.

GOLF ON THURSDAY – Join the golfing gang at Snoqualmie Falls Golf Course. For more details see the signup sheet at the Information Desk in the Narthex.

UPDATE ON BACK-TO-WORK CLOTHING DRIVE – This is the last month to make donations to this drive during which we are collecting work-appropriate clothing for men and women as they transition into the work force, go on interviews, head back to school, and for any other times nicer clothes are appropriate. To learn more, please see the flyer available at the Information Desk in the Narthex, where you will also find Donation Forms if you would like one. With the tremendous response already, Pastor Dave is seeking volunteers to help inventory, sort, and prepare donations for distribution in early October. If you are willing to help, speak with Pastor Dave or send him a message at pastordave@cofclc.net.

YUM! BLACKBERRIES! – The many wild blackberry bushes on the Cross of Christ property are beginning to produce ripe fruit, and you are welcome to come pick for your personal use any time. If this season follows recent past ones, the berries in the back (near the firepit and picnic tables) will ripen first, then those at the south end of the rear parking lot. Enjoy!

LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF SCHOOL KITS – Thanks to your recent donation, kits have been assembled and are almost ready to be shipped all over the world – wherever they are most needed. Donations are needed to cover the cost of shipping. To donate, make your check out to Cross of Christ Lutheran Church with LWR School Kits in the memo line. Thank you for supporting this meaningful ministry!

EXCITING TIMES AHEAD! – With congregational approval, we are moving forward to repair the roof trusses. To coincide with this, the Church Council has established teams that will help us to move our congregation forward. Teams include Visioning, Property Use and Value, Truss Repair, Building Use, and Financial Support. This is the first step to gather data. If you have an interest in participating or have questions, please contact Congregational President Gale Hill.

PLASTER HOUSE FUNDRAISING EVENTS – You are invited Tuesday, October 2, to two update/fund raising events: a luncheon at the Women’s University Club in Seattle and an evening presentation with bites and drinks here on the Eastside at the Barbee Mill Community Beach Club on Lake Washington in Renton. The Plaster House is one of the organizations supported by the Tanzania Mission Fund and visit by our Mission Teams in 2012 and 2016. Learn more at www.theplasterhouse.org.

DONATIONS NEEDED FOR THE SOPHIA WAY – The Sophia Way Emergency Shelter for women needs your help. Thanks to the generosity of Bellevue-based company Symetra, the Emergency Shelter will not close this summer. There is a strong need for meals and donations. You can take meals to St. Peter’s United Methodist Church, 17222 NE 8th Street. Signup online https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/1922673/false#/invitation. The Sophiaway.org website provides more detailed information on how you can help, or you can call 425-896-7385.